How Northside Family Resource Centre Saved €16,936 on Commercial Energy Costs With Utilityfair

Case Study Overview

Northside Family Resource Centre is a charitable organisation based in Limerick, providing a wide range of community services, including family support programmes, meals for older members of the community, and the management of King's Island Community Crèche.

With commercial electricity and gas contracts across both locations having rolled onto expensive out-of-contract rates, the organisation wanted to reduce operating costs and secure the most suitable energy procurement strategy for both sites.

Utilityfair carried out a comprehensive review of Northside Family Resource Centre's electricity and gas accounts, comparing supplier pricing, contract structures and available contract lengths to identify the most cost-effective procurement solution.

Following this review, Northside Family Resource Centre adopted a split procurement strategy, combining wholesale electricity tracking with fixed-price gas contracts. This reduced annual energy costs by €16,936, allowing more funding to be directed towards services and projects that benefit the local community.

Key highlights: €16,936 in annual electricity and gas savings across two locations, a tailored procurement strategy combining wholesale electricity and fixed-price gas, and reduced operating costs to support additional community services.

The Challenge: Reducing Energy Costs Across Two Community Facilities

Northside Family Resource Centre manages two community facilities in Limerick: its main resource centre and King's Island Community Crèche. Both facilities rely on electricity and gas to deliver essential services to the local community.

When the organisation engaged Utilityfair, the energy contracts for both locations had expired and automatically rolled onto expensive out-of-contract rates, increasing operating costs across both sites.

As a charitable organisation, controlling overhead costs is particularly important. Every euro saved on energy can be redirected towards community programmes and services, allowing more funding to be invested where it has the greatest impact.

Northside Family Resource Centre therefore sought an independent review of its energy procurement strategy to reduce costs, secure competitive new contracts and ensure the organisation was purchasing electricity and gas in the most cost-effective way.

How Northside Family Resource Centre Worked with Utilityfair to Reduce Commercial Energy Costs

Utilityfair carried out a comprehensive review of Northside Family Resource Centre's electricity and gas accounts across both the main resource centre and King's Island Community Crèche, analysing energy consumption, billing data and existing contract arrangements for each location.

We then compared pricing across all Irish commercial energy suppliers, assessing different contract structures and contract lengths for both electricity and gas. Each option was presented in a clear, structured format, allowing the organisation to compare annual costs, projected savings and procurement strategies on a like-for-like basis.

Working closely with the Northside Family Resource Centre team, we discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the available procurement strategies. Based on market conditions at the time, we recommended a split approach: retaining a wholesale tracker contract for electricity while securing fixed-price gas contracts to maximise overall savings.

Following approval of the preferred strategy, Utilityfair managed the full contracting and supplier registration process across both locations, ensuring a smooth transition onto the new contracts with no disruption to the organisation's day-to-day operations.

Results: €16,936 in Annual Energy Cost Savings

• Total Savings: €16,936 in combined annual electricity and gas savings achieved across Northside Family Resource Centre and King's Island Community Crèche.
• Electricity Procurement: A wholesale tracker contract was selected for both locations, delivering €13,414 in annual electricity savings while allowing the organisation to benefit from wholesale market pricing.
• Gas Procurement: Fixed-price gas contracts were secured across both locations, reducing annual gas costs while providing greater certainty over future energy expenditure.
• Community Impact: By reducing energy overheads across both sites, Northside Family Resource Centre can redirect more funding towards the community programmes and services it provides throughout Limerick.

Are You Looking for a Better Energy Deal?

Call 01 547 0999 or click below to request a free energy review. We will assess your current energy contracts, identify any potential savings opportunities, and advise on the most suitable procurement options for your business. If you are happy to proceed, we will arrange the new contracts and manage the entire switching process, ensuring a seamless transition with no disruption to your business. Utilityfair helps businesses reduce energy costs through competitive procurement.